Variable-speed gearing.



J. W. CAMPBELL. VARIABLE SVPEED GEARING.. APPLIO'AITION FILED Anm, 1914iAma/vn J. W. CAMPBELL..

' VARIABLE SPEED GEAEING.

EPPLIOATION FILED APE.7,1914.`

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

@.M. NQ EN WTNESSES:

v By.

ATTORNEY JAMES W. CAMPBELL, or RENO, NEVADA.

VARIABLE-SPEED GEARING'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application filed April 7, 1914. Serial No. 830,164.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JAMES W. CAMPBELL, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Reno, in the county ofWashoe and State of Nevada, have made certain new and useful Imrovements in Variable- Speed Gearing, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in variable speed gearing, and itconsists in the combinations,constructions and arrangements hereindescribed and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a transmission gearing by meansof which various speeds may be imparted to the driven shaft, and inwhich the change from one speed to another is accomplished by means ofclutch members without the necessity of shifting gears out of or intomesh with certainother gears.

A further object of my invention is to provide a variable speedmechanism in which a single lever is used for effecting the selection ofany particular speed and for operating the clutches.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed in which the ymechanism is shifted positively so as to givethe desired speed and in which the device is locked after shifting so asto prevent another set of devices from in any Way interfering with theset in use.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specificationand the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part ofthis application in which- Figure l is a section through the device,Fig. 2 is an end view of the device, Fig. 3 is a plan view, Fig. 4 is aplan view of the ratchet plate for the operating lever, certain of theconnecting levers being shown diagrammatically, Fig. 5 is a sectionalView showing the connection of thev operating lever with certain links,Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is asection along the line 7 7 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention I provide a drive shaft 1 having a centralbore or recess 2 in its end. A gear 3 is secured to the end of the driveshaft. The shaft is mounted in a bearing member 4, provided withsuitable linings for reducing the friction of the shaft. The #bearing 4is disposed in the end member 5.of the casing, an opposite end member 6being' provided with a similar bearing 7 for the clutch shaft 8. Thelatter extends from one end of the casing to the other, and its end 8Xis disposed in the bore 2 1 n theend of the shaft 1. The clutch shaft 81s designed to rotate independently of the shaft 1, the motion of theshaft `1 being communicated to the shaft 8 by the mechanism hereinafterdescribed.

Disposed parallel to the shafts 1 and 8 is an auxihary shaft 9 whoseends are disposed 1n suitable bearings in the end members 5 and 6respectively. The gear 3 is in mesh with a gear l0 Whose hub is keyed tothe shaft 9. The gear 3 is provided with a clutch member l1 like thatshown in Fig. 7. Thls clutch member is arranged to engage a similarclutch member 12 carried by a co1- lar 13 which is feathered to theshaft 8 in such a manner as to slide longitudinally of the shaft l, butto revolve with it.

Slidably disposed on anti friction bearing sleeves 14 carried by theshaft 8 is a sleeve 15. upon which is secured a gear 16, arranged tomesh with an intermediate gear 17 (see Fig. 2) which in turn isoperatively connected with a gear 18 slidably disposed on a shaft 9. Thegear 18 is provided with a clutch vmember 19 similar to the clutchmember 11 and arranged to engage a clutch member 20 on a collar 21rigidly secured to the shaft 9. a

Disposed externally of thesleeve 15 and slidable thereupon 1s a sleeve22 which is provided with antifriction faces similar to those shown at14. A gear 23 is secured to the sleeve 22 and is arranged to mesh with agear 24 slidably carried by the shaft 9 and provided with a clutchmember 25 arranged to engage a similar clutch member 26 on a collar 27secured to the shaft 9. v

A sleeve 28 is disposed externally of the sleeve 22 and is providedwithy a gear 29 arranged to mesh with a gear 30 slidably disposed on theshaft 9. The gear 30 is provided with a clutch member 31 arranged toengage a similar clutch member 32 carried by a collar 33 on the shaft 9.

Rigidly secured to the shaft 8 i's a clutch member 34 which is arrangedto be engaged by any of the clutch members 35,36 or 37 carried at theadjacent ends of the sleeves 15, 22 and 28 respectively.

In order to provide for the operation of the transmission mechanism Iarrange a common operating lever 38 which is loosely mounted on astub-shaft 39, so as to slide longitudinally thereof, and also to. havea pivotal' movement thereon from the full line position shown in Fig. 6to the dotted line position. In order to guide the shaft in its movementI provide a plate 40 of the shape shown in Figs. 4,'5 and 6." It will beobserved that this plate has a slot 40x which extends longitudinally ofthe shaft 39 with four .laterally extendingslots communicatingtherewith, these lateral slots being shown at 402.40", 40 and 401respectively. Locking lugs such as'those shown at 41 are provided which,are arranged to be engaged by a locking member 42 on the lever 38, saidlocking memberv 42 being operated by a rod 43. The lower end of thelever 38 is provided with a .socket 44 arranged to engage 49 bearing anarm 50. The latter is connected by a link 51 with an arm 52 on a shaft53 having a yoke 54 operatively con-v nected with theslidable block 13.The rod 46" is connected by a link 47" with an arm` 48" on a shaft 49"having an arm 50" to which a link 51" is connected. The link 51" isoperatively connected with an upper yoke 54" connected with a groovedintegral collar 55" onthe gear 16, while the lower end of the rod 51" isoperatively connected with a yoke 56" which is associated with a groovedcollar 57" of the gear 18. As will be clearly seen from the drawings theother rods- 46c and46d are operatively connected with similar upperyokes 54c and 54d associated with the'gears 23 and 29 respectively andwith lower yokes 56 and 56d respectively.' As will be seen from Fig.lthe upper yoke 54d is connected with the lower yoke through the mediumof arms or levers and the link 57.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device theoperation thereof may be readily understood.

When-the operating lever 38 is in the position lshown in Fig'. 6 thegearing is in the neutral position. This 'is' ,the position 'shownllnFig. 1, for it will ,be-observed. that there is nothingto prevent theturning of' the shaftvl', lwhile the shaft 8 is-idle. If intermediatespeed is desired the lever 38 is shifted to the sloty40", and thenforced in the, direction shown by dotted'lines in Fig. 6. This willcause the rod 46c1 to be pulled forwardly, thereby forcing both gears 29and 304 together with their associate clutch members 37 and 31respectively to the right in Fig. 1. 'The gears 29 and 30 will beconstantly in mesh, but the engagement of the clutch member 37 with theAClutchmember 34 on the shaft 8together with theengagement of the clutchmember 31 with the clutch member 32 on the shaft 9, will cause thedriving of the shaft 8 on intermediate speed, this drivingbeingeifectedthrough the medium of gears 13, 10,' shaft 9, clutch mem-1`bers 32,'31, gear 30, 29 and clutch members 37, 34 to gear 8. When highspeed is desired the lever is moved to thefslot 40a `and moved to thedotted line position, where- 17 serving to reverse the movement of theshaft 8 from the direction of rotation of the shaft 1. I y

It will thus be seen that I have provided a device in .which the gearsare constantly in mesh and in which the changing from one speed toanother `is accomplished by clutch members. that although these clutchmembers may wear, yet they will positively cause the-actuationof theshaft even though considerably worn whereas the gears, on\ the contrary,would be put entirely out of commis- The distinct advantage gained ission before wearing downto any such ex- I tent. Furthermore theprovision of a single lever for effecting they change of speedsimplifies the operation of the mechanism which is a desideratum in thisclass of devices.

I claim: v

1. In a variable speed mechanism, a drive shaft, an auxiliary shaftoperatively connected therewith, a driven shaft normally disconnectedfrom said drive shaft, a gear said auxiliary shaft and slidablelongitudinally of saidauxiliary shaft, said gears bemg carried by saiddriven shaft, and clutch members associated with each of said gears andmovable therewith for5 connecting said their respective shafts.

2. In a varlable speed mechanism, a drive disposed on said driven shaftand slidable v longitudinally thereof, a gear disposed on 115.

constantly in mesh, a clutch member car- Y ned by said auxiliary shaft,a clutch member Ygears with the respective clutch members on shaft, adriven shaft normally disconnected therefrom, an auxiliary shaftoperatively connected with saidv drive shaft, a gearvslidably disposedon said driven shaft and havmg a clutch member, a 'gear` slidably dis'-v 1n mesh, means shaft, a

posed on said auxiliary shaft and having a clutch member, said gearsbeing constantly for moving said gears and simultaneously, a clutch onsaid auxiliary shaft,

clutch members member disposed and a clutch member disposed on saiddriven shaft and arranged to be engaged by the first mentioned clutchmembers respectively.

3. In a variable speed mechanism, a driven plurality of slidable gearsdisposed on said driven shaft, each of said gears having an associateclutch member, a common clutch member on said driven shaft arranged tobe engaged by any of said rst mentioned clutch members, and -means formoving any one ofsaid gears 'and its associate clutch memberlongitudinally of In a variable 'speed mechanism, a driven shaft, aplurality of slidable gears disposed on sa1d driven shaft, each of saidgears having an associate clutch member, a common clutch member on saiddriven shaft arranged mentioned means for moving any one of said gearsand its associate clutch member longitudinally of the driven shaft, anauxiliary shaft, a drive shaft operatively connected with said auxiliaryshaft, and means to be engaged by any of said first clutch members,

carried by the auxiliary shaft for drivingv said driven shaft throughthe medium of one of said gears.

5. In a variable speed mechanism, al drive shaft, an auxiliary shaftoperatively connected with s'aid drive shaft, a driven shaft,

a gear slidably mounted on said driven shaft,

-a clutch member carried by said gear, a gear slidably mounted on theauxiliary shaft, a clutch member carried by said last named gear, saidgears being in mesh, a clutch member secured to said driven shaft andarranged to be engaged by the slidable clutch member on said drivenshaft, a clutch member secured to said auxiliary shaft and arranged tobe engaged by the slidable clutch member on said auxiliary shaft, andmeans for moving'said slidable gears and their associate clutch memberslongitudinally of their respective shafts.

6.' In a variable speed mechanism, a drive shaft, an auxiliary shaftoperatively connected with said drive shaft, a driven shaft, a gearslidably mounted on said driven shaft, a clutch member carried by saidgear, a gear slidably mounted on the auxiliary` shaft, a clutch membercarried by said last named gear, said gears being in mesh, a clutchmembeil secured to said driven shaft and arranged to be engaged by theslidable clutch member on said driven shaft, a clutch member secured tosaid auxiliary shaft and arranged to be engaged by the slidable clutchmember on said auxiliary shaft, means for moving said slidable gears andtheir assorespective shafts, said last named means comprising bell-cranklevers operatively connected with each of said gears, and a 'commonlever for 'operating said bell-crank levers simultaneously.

` JES W. CAMPBELL. Witnesses:

S. R. TIPPETT, FRANK D. KING.

ciate clutch members longitudinally of theirI

